SUV vs Crossover What Is The Difference?

If you are trying to find a family car,  you have probably considered SUVs or crossovers.  When looking at the two types of cars, you have probably wondered: What is the difference?  The vehicles look similar. So why are some called crossovers while others are called SUVs? We have summarized the difference between the two for consumers who are confused.

It Is All About The Platform

For car specialists, the difference is straightforward: A crossover is based on the platform of a car, whereas an SUV has a truck’s chassis. This basically means that crossovers have a “unibody” structure. A unibody structure is when the body and frame of the car is just one piece. In contrast, SUV’s have a  “body on frame” design.

Confusing The Two

This difference between crossover and SUV doesn’t always work. Many consumers refer to cars with a unibody design as an SUV even though they are actually crossovers. Many cars like the Jeep Grand Cherokee are actually crossovers because they have a unibody design, but they are referred to as SUV’s.

As a result, many times the term “SUV” is used even for cars that are actually crossover vehicles. This was especially more common in the past. Nowadays, the word “SUV” makes people think about poor gas mileage and large cars. This is why manufacturers have adopted the word “crossover”.

What Is An SUV?

If you are not sure if your car has a unibody design or a body-on-frame design, it is best to just refer to your car as an SUV. It is better to make the mistake of calling a crossover an SUV than the other way around.

There are many cars that people think are SUV’s, but are actually crossovers. Some of the cars on this list are Nissan Pathfinder, Lexus RX, Acura MDX and Toyota Highlander.